National Geographic One-Off Customized Hardbound Volume, 20s - 40s. Lena Larcom personalized.

Washington, DC: National Geographic Society , 1950. Hardcover. Fine. 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall. Fine. See scans and description. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, circa 1950. An undated, singular hardbound volume of the text, many color illustrative plates (mostly non-photographic) and black and white photographic plates from selected articles from diverse issues of the National Geographic magazine between the 1920s and the 1940s. Personalized at spine bottom to Lena Larcom (see scan). There is no copyright information page, nor masthead page; this is clearly a National Geographic Society production, but the assumed publication year of 1950 is an estimate based on the range of NGS articles represented (20s to 40s), in no discernible order. Hence, the pagination is also unhelpful, but there are about 320 pages herein. The format in its entirety is unfamiliar to us, and something of a mystery. The binding is quite professional, as is the production of the glossy plates and pages; contents were not excised from softbound issues, but printed in signatures for this binding. No page of any article bears the issue number from which it came, nor the volume number, nor the month or year; yet all pages appear to retain their original page-numbering (very confusingly). The basis for the selection of the articles within is in no way apparent, though presumably there must have been a rationale for selection from the (approximate) 20-year range. There is certainly a great profusion of beautiful and engaging color plates and b&w photographs here, and that may have been the basis. If you have any information regarding what NGS subscription program this volume may be an example of, please do pass that on. Quarto; black leather or leatherette boards, gilt spine imprinting, approximately 350 pages; apart from modest foxing spots at endpapers, quite Fine in every way. Very handsome on the shelf or table. Please see scans. - LG12